Server X not starting after nVidia driver installation

[Nabuchadnezzar]

Hi everyone!
I'm fairly new to Linux, so please bear with me

After my inability to get the graphical mode working, I've reinstalled SL6 yesterday downloading everything from the web to make sure everything was up to date. In fact I can now use Firefox 10 and other stuff I was not able to before.

I followed the instructions mentioned here, but to no avail. ServerX fails to start and the only thing I can do is to yum erase kmod-nvidia in the hope everything goes back to the previous configuration.
I put rdblacklist=nouveau in grub.conf, put blacklist nouveau options nouveau modeset=0 as boot parameters, even used the vga=0x303 trick. Nothing. Server X refused to start.

The last thing I did was to manually install the driver fron nVidia (with all the above nouveau hate stuff) before server X could start by putting a nice "3" as boot parameter. Went root, start the installer, everything goes smoothly and the installer says installation successful!, run nvidia-xconfig... Nothing again, but this time even after nvidia-uninstall Server X didn't start, and somehow I lost my grub configurations to load anything but linux (I also have a Windows XP partition that I use to search for help in the web when I can't put linux to work).

With the fresh installation, I installed kmod-nvidia again. Nothing. Before I do anything worse, I beg for your help

I have three "xorg.conf" files in my /etc/X11/ folder and I'm posting them all because I don't know which one is more useful and there is no. It seems I currently have no plain xorg.conf file.

1) xorg.conf.backup (last edit: 03/28 01:46:08)
http://sharetext.org/DJQN

2) xorg.conf.backup-nvidia (last edit: 03/28 01:43:36)
http://sharetext.org/DJQP

3) xorg.conf.uninstalled-nvidia (last edit: 03/28 01:46:08)
http://sharetext.org/DJQR

Also, here is my three Xorg logs. Again, I post them all because I am not sure which one is more useful.

1) Xorg.0.log.old (last edit: 03/28 01:50:08)
http://sharetext.org/DJQS

2) Xorg.0.log (last edit: 03/28 09:09:29)
http://sharetext.org/DJQU

3) Xorg.9.log (last edit: 03/28 01:23:31)
http://sharetext.org/DJQX

I hope this helps. Please help me
Thank you!

[redman]

The easiest way to install the Nvidia driver is by using the one from Nvidia:

1. Download the driver from the Nvidia website (link).
2. Update your system with "yum update" (to make sure you have the latest kernel) and reboot.
3. Boot the system into runlevel 3.
4. Add "rdblacklist=nouveau" to grub (nothing more!).
5. Start the Nvidia installer. It will complain about Nouveau and offers to write a file in the directory map /etc/modprobe.d (containing "blacklist nouveau options nouveau modeset=0").
6. Reboot again into runlevel 3.
7. Install the Nvidia driver (including the automatic configuration).
8. Reboot or jump to runlevel 5.

This method has one drawback, with every new kernel you need to reinstall the driver.
But the major advantage is that YOU decide which version of the Nvidia driver you use (not every newer version is better).

[Nabuchadnezzar]

QUOTE (redman @ Mar 28 2012, 11:51 AM)

The easiest way to install the Nvidia driver is by using the one from Nvidia: 1. Download the driver from the Nvidia website (link). 2. Update your system with "yum update" (to make sure you have the latest kernel) and reboot. 3. Boot the system into runlevel 3. 4. Add "rdblacklist=nouveau" to grub (nothing more!). 5. Start the Nvidia installer. It will complain about Nouveau and offers to write a file in the directory map /etc/modprobe.d (containing "blacklist nouveau options nouveau modeset=0"). 6. Reboot again into runlevel 3. 7. Install the Nvidia driver (including the automatic configuration). 8. Reboot or jump to runlevel 5. This method has one drawback, with every new kernel you need to reinstall the driver. But the major advantage is that YOU decide which version of the Nvidia driver you use (not every newer version is better).

Thanks for the quick answer!
I followed your instructions step by step. Now I'm always starting at runlevel 3 since I permanently added the "3" at the end of the line and I'm comfortable with that since the graphical mode is just a "startx" away.

However, I got the dreaded "no screen found" error at step 8 and now I'm typing from Windows XP.
I can still fortunately load Linux to runlevel 3 but I'd rather ask for directions now because I fear to type anything and do something wrong on my own.
I can read the linux partitions from windows.

Xorg.conf is empty (0 bytes)

Here is Xorg.0.log
http://sharetext.org/DJQY

EDIT.
In case it matters, I have a NVIDIA GeForce 9500 GT, so I downloaded the GeForge 9 series drivers for Linux 64 bit.

[U308]

Looks like nouveau is still enabled. To check in runlevel 3 enter at prompt: /sbin/lsmod | grep nouveau
If there is output you still have it enabled. Please see also this forum post http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=319268

The 9500GT card is fine.

[Nabuchadnezzar]

QUOTE (U308 @ Mar 28 2012, 03:10 PM)

Looks like nouveau is still enabled. To check in runlevel 3 enter at prompt:  /sbin/lsmod | grep nouveau If there is output you still have it enabled. Please see also this forum post  http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=319268 The 9500GT card is fine.

Thank you! nouveau was indeed still there.
I followed that thread you linked and I think I managed to kill nouveau for good this time. At least, /sbin/lsmod showed no nouveau afterwards and I managed to start server X with neither nouveau nor nvidia drivers (awful graphics but I was actually relieved).
I rebooted to init 3, made sure /sbin/lsmod didn't show any nouveau and reinstalled the nvidia drivers but it still doesn't work! ServerX doesn't like my nvidia drivers, it seems...

Here is xorg.conf
http://sharetext.org/DJQ3

And here is Xorg.0.log
http://sharetext.org/DJQ5

Also, my grub.conf since I might have done something wrong there.
http://sharetext.org/DJQ6

[helikaon]

Hi there,
just quick question(s):
- why do you have "3" stated in the end of your kernel grub line? This boot you to runlevel 3 where the X server doesn't start (no gui) is this desired behaviour?
- in some of your xorg logs i noticed nouveau driver to start - did you play with your grub.conf stanza enabling / disabling nouveau?


- please post the config and logs to sharetext webpage, this way the topic is very hard to read - have a look to my signature, there is 'howto post large texts'

cheers,

This post has been edited by helikaon: Mar 29 2012, 08:22 AM

[Nabuchadnezzar]

QUOTE (helikaon @ Mar 29 2012, 09:21 AM)

Hi there, just quick question(s): - why do you have "3" stated in the end of your kernel grub line? This boot you to runlevel 3 where the X server doesn't start (no gui) is this desired behaviour? - in some of your xorg logs i noticed nouveau driver to start - did you play with your grub.conf stanza enabling / disabling nouveau? - please post the config and logs to sharetext webpage, this way the topic is very hard to read - have a look to my signature, there is 'howto post large texts' cheers,

Hi, thanks for the sharetext thing, I just edited my previous posts to make the topic easier to read! I'll keep that site in mind in the future.

I have "3" stated because I actually want to boot to runlevel 3. That's desired behaviour, since I don't always need the graphical server. In case, I know I can start it via "startx" and that's easy enough, if it would actually start
If this choice is bad for some reason, please tell me

I had nouveau still enabled previously, but now it's not. I never consciously/willingly enabled nouveau, instead I tried to disable/kill/destroy/gruesomely_eradicate_from_system because it seemingly interferes with nvidia drivers.
In fact, my last post only shows "nouveau" as copy/paste from boot I think, those are just lines intended to blacklist nouveau and stuff, not load it. I might be wrong of course but that's what it appears to me.

As of now, server X still refuses to start, nothing changed from previous post, so I'm stuck with runlevel 3, willingly or not. Are there any hopes?

[redman]

When hunting down a problem and trying several options there is a certain possibility that you broke something (big or small) which might be more difficult to solve (too much time) than a fresh install. If you can spare the time, I'd reinstall.

[Nabuchadnezzar]

That's what I did like two days ago. I didn't do anything not reported or suggested in this thread. I doubt a fresh installation would solve anything but will do as soon as I get back from work.
Unless you can suggest other options.

Do you have any advice about the reinstallation? I'm going to reinstall from online repositories, not from the dvds to make sure everything is updated. Normal "desktop" installation plus Firefox and thunderbird, nothing else (like I did two days ago).
If I try to install from dvds some packages won't be read, but the dvds bring me to repository and package selection just fine so I can install fron online repos without worrying about the dvds. Takes longer but I feel it's safer.

[Nabuchadnezzar]

QUOTE (redman @ Mar 28 2012, 11:51 AM)

The easiest way to install the Nvidia driver is by using the one from Nvidia: 1. Download the driver from the Nvidia website (link). 2. Update your system with "yum update" (to make sure you have the latest kernel) and reboot. 3. Boot the system into runlevel 3. 4. Add "rdblacklist=nouveau" to grub (nothing more!). 5. Start the Nvidia installer. It will complain about Nouveau and offers to write a file in the directory map /etc/modprobe.d (containing "blacklist nouveau options nouveau modeset=0"). 6. Reboot again into runlevel 3. 7. Install the Nvidia driver (including the automatic configuration). 8. Reboot or jump to runlevel 5. This method has one drawback, with every new kernel you need to reinstall the driver. But the major advantage is that YOU decide which version of the Nvidia driver you use (not every newer version is better).

Ok I just reinstalled Scientific Linux and it's up to date. I'm following again these steps.
Here is my grub.conf before restarting for the very first time.
http://sharetext.org/DJ8A

And here is my Xorg.0.log before restarting.
http://sharetext.org/DJ8B

I don't have a xorg.conf file yet.
Proceeding to boot into runlevel 3 and start the Nvidia installer.

EDIT.

No luck.
Had to install gcc and kernel-devel but that's normal. All went fine till step 8, then no screen at following reboot + startx.
/sbin/lsmod | grep nouveau gives no output.

xorg.conf
http://sharetext.org/DJ8N

Xorg.0.log
http://sharetext.org/DJ8P

[redman]

That is very strange.

Which videocard do you have?
Looking at your grub info I see you're using the 64 bits (x86_64) version of SL6.
You downloaded the 64bits version of the 295.33 driver (295.33 was mentioned in one of the log files)?

[Nabuchadnezzar]

QUOTE (redman @ Mar 30 2012, 11:49 AM)

That is very strange. Which videocard do you have? Looking at your grub info I see you're using the 64 bits (x86_64) version of SL6. You downloaded the 64bits version of the 295.33 driver (295.33 was mentioned in one of the log files)?

I have the nvidia geforce 9500 gt video card. I'm pretty sure I downloaded the nvidia geforce 9 series drivers for linux_64.
What's this 295.33 driver about? First time I hear of that, unless that's another name for the nvidia drivers I downloaded.

I'll download the drivers again via windows and put the file into my usbkey. What's the command line to mount the usbkey and where would it be mounted?

[U308]

Yes, 295.33 is the very latest nvidia driver. What is the output of modprobe nvidia ?
BTW. I always download from elrepo repository* and not from the nvidia site.
You should then also install dkms - that way you will not have to always reinstall nvidia after
receiving kernel updates.

*To enable go to System>Administration>Add/Remove software>Yum Repositories and tick elrepo.
Then: yum --enablerepo=elrepo install kmod-nvidia

[helikaon]

Hi there,
- the usb stick is usually automounted to /media/name-of-usb-stick
question
- is this laptop or dekstop? dont you have 2 VGA in your computer - e.g. like notobooks with Nvidia Optimus technology etc..?
- do you have just one computer screen or use 2?

todo:
- post here output of "lspci" command, so we have an idea about your HW env.
- post here output of "lsmod" so we see which modules are loaded in memory
- post here "lsusb" (just to get whole picture)
- post here "uname -a" (to see kernel booted info)
-post here "dmesg" (to see how HW is recognized during boot)

note:
i'd also try to use some older Nvidia Linux driver for you VGA, as you vga (nvidia 9500) is older model and sometimes the newest is not always 'the best'
Also, according to you xorg.log that i checked, i did not find any problems there with Nvidia module - it seams Nvidia module loaded to memory OK, no troubles in log there.


cheers,

This post has been edited by helikaon: Mar 30 2012, 01:45 PM

[toracat]

QUOTE (helikaon @ Mar 30 2012, 05:37 AM)

i'd also try to use some older Nvidia Linux driver for you VGA, as you vga (nvidia 9500) is older model and sometimes the newest is not always 'the best'

In relation to helikaon's note above, I'd like to add that ELRepo provides 2 legacy nvidia drivers (-173 and -96).

http://elrepo.org/tiki/kmod-nvidia
http://elrepo.org/tiki/kmod-nvidia-173xx
http://elrepo.org/tiki/kmod-nvidia-96xx

You want to find out which one supports yours by looking at the Device PCI ID.

The biggest advantage with using the kmod package from ELRepo is that it is kABI compatible -- meaning there is no need to reinstall it for every kernel update. It survives the update transparently. Also, as part of the installation process, it blacklists nouveau for you.

IF for some reason you need to uninstall it, that's as easy as running a 'yum remove kmod-xxx'.

[redman]

I have the same card in the musicbox downstairs. Will check it later today with the latest Nvidia kernel (which I'm not using because a bug/problem with VLC not playing videos). Currently it uses driver 290.10 without a problem.

[redman]

After installing the 295.33 driver and rebooting the system I did not encounter any problem.
SL booted and works without any glitch. VLC plays any kind of movie.